Half-Naked Woman Shuts Down South Carolina Airport, Police Say

posted by R.J. Johnson - @rickerthewriter -
Feb 12, 2019

A half-naked woman running around a South Carolina airport on Sunday (Feb. 10) ground operations to a halt, causing flight cancellations and the airport to be temporarily shut down, according to the Florence Morning News.

Florence County Sheriff Major Michael Nunn said sometime after noon on Sunday, a partially-clothed woman wearing only her underwear was spotted sprinting across the airport's runway and into a nearby wooded area. Deputies were called to the scene where they used K-9 units to search for the streaker. Flights were delayed and several planes were forced to circle, and wait to land until deputies found the woman in a storm ditch where she was hiding.

“Officers with the Florence Regional Airport Department of Public Safety notified the FAA Tower and requested air traffic be suspended until the individual was located to ensure her safety as well as those traveling on arriving air carriers. The Florence Regional Airport Department of Public Safety began a search for the suspect and requested the assistance of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office canine tracking team to locate the suspect," Anderson said. "After a 30-minute search, Florence County Sheriff s Office canines led officers to a drainage culvert, where the suspect was located North of Runway 27. The suspect was removed from the culvert without injury, charged with trespassing and transported to a local hospital to undergo a possible mental evaluation."

The airport was closed for more than two hours while law enforcement officials searched for the woman, according to the Florence Morning News. Two American flights were canceled, one scheduled to land in Florence, and another departing the airport that was bound for Charlotte.

"The safety of our passengers is our number one priority and we take every measure to comply with FAA rules and regulations that are in place for their safety," Anderson added.

The woman was taken to a local hospital where she underwent a mental evaluation. Nunn said he does not expect to file charges against the woman.